Crossover stock cutting device in multi-reel winding apparatus



slssoN ET AL A cRossovER sToCK CUTTING DEVICE: IN

MULTI-REEL WINDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 4, 1960 March 20, 1962 United States This invention relates to continuous dual-reel stock winding apparatus in general, and to stock-cutting devices therefor in particular.

Reel winding apparatus of the type in which these stock cutting devices are used commonly hold two adjacent reels of which one reel is driven and fully wound with flexible stock from a continuous supply under the control of a guide which leads the stock onto the reel in successive layers of orderly arranged turns, whereupon the winding of the stock may without interruption be continued on the adjacent second reel by quickly shifting the guide into operative relation therewith for the same orderly deposit of stock thereon. In thus quickly shifting the guide into operative relation with the second reel while both reels are driven, the guided stock will be compelled to cross over the adjacent end rims of the reels and, in consequence, be taken around by the latter and against a cutter in its path which severs it.

'I'he cutters used for severing the crossover stock in these winding apparatus are in the general form of knife blades with their cutting edges in the path of the crossover stock. While these knife blades usually sever the crossover stock, they have several deficiencies. Thus, the crossover stock is almost always inclined in varying degrees to the cutting edge of a blade in its path when running against the same, which is hardly conductive to clean and instantaneous severance of the stock and which leads to rapid dulling of the cutting edge. Also, owing to the relatively high speed at which the crossover stock runs against a knife blade in its path, the stock will, on meeting the knife blade, be mostly torn or snapped apart rather than cut apart, resulting in momentary shock to and stresses in the winding apparatus and knife blade which may be quite severe depending on the hardness and gauge of the stock. y

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide in reel winding apparatus of this type a stock-cutting device which has none of the aforementioned and other shortcomings of the prior knife blades used for severing the crossover stock between `adjacent reels, and which in all other respects is superior to, yet entails hardly any more cost than, these prior knife blades.

It is another object of the present invention to provide in reel winding apparatus of this type a stock-cutting device in the form of two freely rotatable companion shear discs with the bite of their peripheral shear edges in the path of the crossover stock. With this arrangement, there is not only obtained an exceedingly simple structural form of the cutting device but, even more importantly, there is also achieved unfailing progressive shearing of the cross-over stock from opposite sides with neither shock to nor stresses in the winding apparatus and neither shock to nor excessive stresses in the cutting device, and without edge-dulling slippage of the stock on the shear discs,

A further object of the present invention is to provide in reel-winding apparatus of this type a stock-cutting device of which the aforementioned shear discs are ofy relatively large diameter compatible with permissible bulk of the cutting device in the winding apparatus, thereby obtaining shear edg which are not only of quite considerable peripheral extent that in time are used fairly uniatent rice formly throughout in shearing crossover stock and, hence, remain sharp for the longest time, but they also afford over a considerable approach region to the bite of the discs a Wedge-like guide within reach of most any disposed crossover stock for its smooth lead into this bite. Moreover, the larger the diameters of the shear discs are, the more gradual will be their shearing of the crossover stock and the smaller will be the momentary stresses in these rotary discs and their mounts. Also, the largerdiameter shear discs readily lend themselves to shearing crossover stock of widely varying gauge.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide in reel-winding apparatus of this type a stock-cutting device which has a'ixed lengthwise and widthwise extended ywedge-like stock guide beyond that aorded by the peripheral shearing edges of the aforementioned rotary shear discs, for an even more assured lead of any disposed crossover stock into the bite of these discs and also for restriction of the stock guiding performance of the peripheral shear edges to a relatively small wedge angle of the latter within which the stock will be cammed most directly and quickly into the bite of the discs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in reel-winding apparatus of this type a stock-cutting device of which the aforementioned extended stock guide is formed advantageously as a safety guard over the rotary shear discs except over the aforementioned restricted wedge angle of their peripheral shearing edges within which the latter lead the crossover stock into the bite of these discs.

A further object of the present invention is to provide in reel-winding apparatus of this type a stock-cutting device of which the aforementioned combined stock guide and shear guard has in the path of the crossover stock beyond the shear discs `an obstruction against which the stock will run and be torn apart thereat if it should not have been completely severed on its passage through the bite of the shear discs, whereby to assure severance of the crossover stock in any event.

Other objects and advantages will appear to those skilled in the art from the following, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

FIG. l is a front view of winding apparatus embodying the present invention and featuring a stock-cutting device;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section through the same 4apparatus taken substantially on the -line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the featured stock-cutting device as taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. l;

FlG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the vsame stock cutting device in action.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FlGS. l and 2 thereof, the reference numeral 10 designates apparatus for winding flexible stock s, and more particularly insulated wire or cable, onto reels R in a continuous operation. The winding apparatus, which may in all essential respects be like that disclosed in the Davis patent, No. 2,893,652, dated July 7, 1959, comprises a main frame 12 which presently includes opposite end sections or castings 14 and a plurality of tie bars 16, 18 and 20 between them. Pivoted on the lower front frame bar 16 are spaced reel stands 22 which at their tops carry rotary cantilever spindles 24 for removable reception of reels R. Each reel stand 22 is swingable into the raised reel-windingposition shown, and into a lower reel-exchange position. For the exchange of an empty reel for a full reel on each stand 22 in its lower exchange position, a collar 26 is removed from the spindle 24, whereupon the full reel is axially removed from the reel spindle 24 and an empty reel placed thereon and the collar 26 reapplied to the spindle 24 and locked thereto by the pin 2S (FIG. l). In placing the empty reel on the spindle 24, a coupling pin 32 on a xed arm 34 on the spindle is led into an aperture in the adjacent end flange f of the reel for releasable driving connection of the latter with the spindle 24. The reel stand is then swung into its raised winding position for the winding of stock onto the empty reel thereon. Suitable power means serve to swing each reel stand 22 into its winding and exchange positions. To this endLeach stand 22 is at its top pivotally connected with the rod of a piston in a cylinder 36 which is pivotally mounted in a bracket 38 on the rear frame bars 18. .Each cylinder 36 is under the control of a suitable manual valve (not shown) for swinging the associated stand 22 into its winding and exchange positions.

Each reel stand 22 is provided with a spindle drive 40 whch presently comprises a power-driven belt 42 and a pulley 44 on the spindle 24. Thus, on swinging each reel stand 22 into its raised winding position, its pulley 44 is brought into driving engagement with the associated belt 42 and the spndle 24 with the reel thereon are driven. Conversely, on swinging each reel stand 22 from winding position into exchange position, its pulley 44 is retracted from the associated belt, with the result that the spindle .'24 and regel thereon will no longer be driven, suitable brake means 45 being preferably provided to bring the spinning mass of the spindle and reel to a quick stop.

For the winding of stock onto the reels on the stands 22, there is provided a stock guide 50 which presently comprises a guide bracket 51 slidable on the front top frame bar 20. Depending from the guide bracket 51 is a carrier 52 for a pair of forwardly projecting rotary guide rolls 54, preferably of antifriction type, between which passes the stock s from the usual accumulator (not shown) to either reel. The stock guide 50 is reciprocable axially of the reel spindles 24, and is coupled with a threaded drive spindle 55 for its relatively slow back-andforth or traverse movement between the end flanges f of either reel to guide the stock s in successive layers of orderly turns onto the latter until fully wound, whereupon the drive spindle 55 quickly shifts the guide 50 from windon relation with the full reel over into wind-on relation with the empty reel. The drive of the stock guide 50 may otherwise be in all essential respects like that shown in the aforementioned Davis patent and may be under suitable control for automatic operation.

In the operation of the present winding apparatus, the stock guide 50 moves back and forth in winding relation with a reel R to deposit stock s thereon in orderly layers until the reel is fully wound, whereupon the stock guide is quickly shifted over into winding relation with the adjacent empty reel, causing thereby the stock to cross over the adjacent end flanges or rims f of the reels. The crossover stock, which is under operating tension, will spin around with the driven reels owing to its firm contact with the adjacent end rims f of the latter, and will not be severed until a few turns of stock have been wound on the empty reel for secure anchorage of the stock thereto (FIG. 1). The crossover stock between the driven reels is thereupon severed by the cutting device 62 to-be-described, and the stand 22 with the fully-wound reel lowered for exchange of an empty reel for the full reel thereon while the winding of stock on the other, driven reel continues. The lowered stand with the empty reel is returned to its winding position in time to be driven by its belt 42 when the other reel is fully wound with stock and the guide Si) is quickly shifted to cross the stock from winding relation with the full reel over into winding relation with the empty reel, leaving again crossover stock between the reels which spins around therewith until a few turns of stock are wound on the empty reel, whereupon the crossover stock between the reels is severed by the cutting device 62. Successive reels R are thus wound with stock in a continuous operation until the apparatus is stopped. v

The stock-cutting device 62 of the present invention contemplates shearing of the crossover stock from opposite directions. To this end, the cutting device 62 comprises two companion shear discs 64 with peripheral shear edges 66, which are rotatably mounted on a support 68, and more particularly on studs l the Shanks 72 of which are firmly anchored in the support 68 by nuts 74 (FIG. 4), with the shear discs held ontheir studs 70 by retainers 76. The shear discs 64, are, for reasons apparent hereinafter, preferably turnable quite freely on their studs 7() and may, if desired, be mounted thereon through intermediation of antifriction bearings.

To sever the crossover stock between the driven reels in the winding apparatus, the cutting device 62 must be in the path of this stock. Owing to the fact that in the present winding apparatus the crossover stock is required to remain intact and spin with the reels for a number of revolutions until the stock is sufficiently wound on the empty reel to become securely anchored thereto, the present stock-cutting device is required to be brought into the path of the spinning crossover stock during a single revolution thereof within which the sameis to be severed, and to be subsequently `retracted from the path of the next crossover stock in the apparatus. To this end, the cutting device 62 is with its support 68 mounted, presently bolted at 78 (FIG. 2), on an upright arm 80 on one end of a swing shaft 82 in a bearing bracket 84 at the base of the apparatus. Carried on the opposite end of the swing shaft 82 is another arm 86 which is pivotally connected with the rod 88 of a piston in a cylinder 90 that, in turn,` is pivotally mounted at 92 on a fixed arm 94 on one of the rear'frame bars 18. Surrounding the piston rod 88 and interposed between the arm 86 and cylinder 90 is a compression spring 96 which normally returns the cutting device 62 from the operative position in FIG. 2 into an inoperative position (not shown) in which the same is retracted from the path of crossover stock. To project the cutting device 62 into its operative position (FIG. 2), fluid under pressure is admitted into the lower end of the cylinder 9i), and this same cylinder end is vented for spring-return of the cutting device 62 into its inoperative position.

The companion shear discs 64 are preferably of large diameters commensurate with permissible bulk and weight of the cutting device in the apparatus, thereby obtaining shear edges 66 which are not only of quite considerable peripheral extent that in time are used fairly uniformly throughout in serving crossover stock and, hence, remain sharp for the longest time, but which also aord over a considerable approach region r to the bite b of the discs 64 a wedge-like guide within reach of most any disposed crossover stock lfor its smooth and least impeded lead into the bite b. Moreover, the larger the diameter of the shear discs 64 are, the more gradual will be their shearing of the crossover stock and the smaller will be the momentary stresses in these rotary discs and their mounting studs 70. Also, the larger-diameter shear discs 64 readily lend themselves to shearing crossover stock of widely varying cross-sectional dimensions.

The peripheral shear edges of the discs 64 preferably lie substantially in a common plane p (FIGS. 4 and 5) rather than overlap at their bite b in usual shear fashion, thereby facilitating their initial coordination in cooperative shear relation with each other and also maintaining their coordination in this respect for the longest time. In thus arranging the discs 64 with their peripheral shear edges disposed substantially in a common plane, these shear edges have also every tendency to force the crossover stock thereat into a disposition substantially parallel to the disc axes for quickest and least strained shearing of the stock. This is clearly illustrated in FIG. 5 in which the stock s is on opposite sides of the bite b of the discs 64 inclined, more or less, to the common plane p of the shear edges 66 as is so typical of crossover stock, yet the stock immediately at the bite b is compelled by the cooperating shear edges 66 into a disposition substantially at right angles to the plane p regardless of the operating tension in the stock.

The peripheral shear edges 66 of the companion discs 64 are at their bite b spaced from each other at least suliiciently to avoid contact between them so that they will not be subject to Wear from this cause. Preferably, the shear edges of the discs 64 are at their bite spaced apart even further so that the stock will snap apart or be torn apart under its operating tension on minimum penetration by tbe shear edges from opposite sides, with the result that the shear discs are at the times of cut subjected to stresses which are minimum for the hardness and gauge of the stock severed and the shear edges are kept from dulling for the longest time. It is also preferable to provide for adjustable spacing of the shear edges 66 of the companion discs 64 at their bite b, thereby to permit severance by these discs of crossover stock of widely varying hardness and especially gauge on minimum penetration by these shear edges. To this end, the stud 76 is presently arranged eccentrically with respect to its shank 72 (FIG. 4), so that the spacing of the shear edges 66 of the companion discs 64 at their bite b may be varied on angular adjustment of the shank 72' in the support 68.

The cutting device 62 also provides in the path of crossover stock beyond the shear discs 64 an obstruction against which the stock will run and assuredly be torn apart thereat if the same should not have become completely severed on its passage between the shear discs. This obstruction is presently in the form of two shoulders 1GO on the support 68 on opposite sides of the shear discs 64. The shear discs 64 are normally arranged so that crossover stock will ordinarily be severed on partial penetration by the shear edges 66 while passing through the bite or the latter, or even while passing somewhat therebeyond where peak operational tension in the stock on its more or less whip-like release from the shear discs will complete the severance of the stock. Hence, the obstructing shoulders it are suciently spaced from the bite b of the shear discs (FIG. 3) to permit the crossover stock to snap apart under its own tension before running up against these shoulders if the same should pass beyond the shear discs in non-severed condition. In any event, however, the crossover stoclt will assuredly become separated at the obstructing shoulders 1.09 if the same should perchance not become separated before then. Complete separation of the crossover stock at the obstructing shoulders lili? may occur at times, or may even be relied on, in cases where the stock is, for example, insulated wire or cable (FIG. 5) the conductor c of which is in the form of flexible wire or hunched strands of copper which may be too soft to break apart on their own on partial penetration by the shear edges 66 and have even then sufficient tensile strength left to preclude their snapping apart under operational tension.

The support 68 is preferably formed to provide a fixed lengthwise and widthwise extended wedge-like stock guide beyond that aorded by the peripheral shear edges 66 of the companion discs 64 at the immediate approach region r to the bite b of these discs (FIG. 3). This extended stock guide, which is presently lformed by slots i941 in the support 63 that extend rearwardly to the obstructing shoulders i) and have their forward edges iiared apart as at 166 (FIGS. 3 and 4), aords an even more assured lead of any disposed crossover stock into the bite of the shear discs and also restricts the stock-guiding performance of the peripheral shear edges 65 to a relatively small wedge angle of the latter within which the stock will be cammed most directly and without edge-dulling slippage on the discs into the bite of the latter.

Finally, the support 68 is advantageously formed as a safety guard over the shear discs 64 which encloses the latter except at and near their bite b and at the stock approach thereto. To this end, the support 68 has the joining walls 19S, 110, 112, 1'14 and 116 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

While in the exemplary widing apparatus described herein the stock-cutting device 62 is movable into and from the path of crossover stock between the reels in the apparatus owing to the fact that the crossover stock must prior to severance spin which the reels until the stock is securely anchored to the empty reel by a few wound turns thereon, the stock-cutting device may be tixedly mounted in the path of crossover stock in known winding apparatus of a type in which anchor devices on the adjacent end rims of the reels snag or snatch and securely hold the stock in wedge fashion the moment it comes within their reach on the crossover from the full reel to the empty reel. An exemplary stock winding apparatus of this type having the anchor devices just mentioned and being suitable for fixed mounting of the present stock-cutting device in the path of crossover stock, is shown in the patent to Nelson No. 2,932,- 462, dated April 12, 1960.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed is:

1. In stock-winding apparatus, the combination With means for removably supporting axially aligned rotary reels, drive means for the supported reels, and a guide operative to cross stock-under-tension from wind-on relation with either reel over into wind-on relation with the other reel, of a stock-cutting device having two rotary discs with peripheral companion shear edges spaced at their bite less than the thickness of stock to-be-cut and being with their bite in the path of crossover stock between and taken around by the driven reels for severing the stock, and an obstruction in line with, and in the path of incompletely severed stock taken beyond, the bite of said discs to tear the stock apart.

2. The combination in stock-Winding apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said obstruction is suciently spaced from the bite of said discs to permit incompletely severed stock to snap apart under its tension prior to running against said obstruction at any drive speed of said reels.

3. The combination in stock-Winding apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said stock-cutting device further has a guard over said discs except at their bite and at parts of their shear edges approaching the bite and serving as a wedge-like guide for crossover stock into the bite.

4. The combination in stock-winding apparatus as set forth in claim 1, in which said stock-cutting device further has a guard over said discs except at and beyond their bite and at parts of their shear edges approaching the bite and serving as a wedge-like guide for crossover stock into the bite, with said guard also providing said obstruction.

5. In stock-Winding apparatus, the combination with means for removably supporting axially aligned rotary reels, drive means for the supported reels, and a guide operative to cross stock-under-tension from wind-on relation with either reel over into Wind-on relation with the other reel; of a stock-cutting device having two rotary discs with peripheral companion shear edges, a wedgelike guide in the path of crossover stock between and taken around by the driven reels and leading the stock 3,026,053 7 8 into the bite of said shear edges for severance, and a 7. The combination in stock-winding apparatus as set guard over said discs formed by said guide. forth in claim 6, in which said guard also forms said 6. The combination in stock-Winding apparatus as set guide. forth in claim 5, in which the peripheral shear edges of said discs are at their bite spaced less than the thick- 5 ness of the stock Lobe-cut, and said guard provides References Cited in the tile of this patent UNTED vSTATES PATENTS an obstruction in line with, and in the path of incom- 1,393,286 Hosford Oct. 11, 1921 pletely severed stock taken beyond, the bite of said shear 2,621,734 Morgan et ai. Dec. 16, 1952 edges to tear the stock apart. 2,932,462

Nelson Apr. 12, 1960 a We' 

